Photo composing machine



Aug. 4, 1936. E. E. COOPER ET AL PHOTO COMPOSING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 12, 1935 INVENTO 5 ZZCOv +9 l 4, 1936 E. E. COOPER ET AL 2,049,551

PHOTO COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Feb. l2,'l935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 4, 1936 PHOTO COMPOSING MACHINE Edward Eugene Cooper and Albert Theodore Troedel, Port Melbourne, Australia Application February 12, 1935, Serial No. 6,210

In Australia 4 Claims.

This invention relates to photographic stepand-repeat contact-printing in which a machine is employed carrying two or more, but preferably two, chase bearers in which negative holders are retained each over a fixed table on which is a sensitized photographic plate. Movements longitudinally and transversely of the negative holders over the tables are controlled in order that the picture or image on a negative can be trans- 10" ferred simultaneously to the plates and repeated step by step until the whole surface of a plate at each end of the machine is filled. The plates are then developed and afterwards used in a printing press in the usual way.

In such a machine arrangement of parts is required to ensure the great accuracy necessary when moving the members in which the negative holders are suspended. Even the slightest warping of the supporting means will lead to an accumulative error in the placing of. the transi'ers or prints from negatives to plates.

It is further necessary, in a machine of the type indicated, to move the chases, in which I the negative holders are mounted, near to the plates prior to the photographic prints being made and to lift the whole clear of said plates before moving the negatives the next step. This clearing movement is made to avoid injury to the colloidal surface upon the plates.

Our present invention, therefore, has for one of its objects to support properly the negative holders and chases suspended over the tables. This is effected by a stout beam or girder resting on a carriage or trolley adapted to be moved transversely in the machine and means are provided for moving the girder, with the suspended parts, over the trolley longitudinally in the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide each chase with means for raising or lowering same in relation to the tables and the plates resting thereon. This is effected through systems of levers actuated from a common lever operated at the front of the machine and which include spindles arranged in the chase carriers to raise or lower the negative holders and their chases.

Means are installed in the machine for moving the beam or girder and the suspended parts over the tables, for adjusting the alignment of the carriage or trolley and for controlling the step by step movements of the parts. The mech anisms have already been described in our prior Letters Patent Number 1,999,831 dated the thirtieth day of April 1935, and are not claimed December 21, 1934 steadying the trolley on its carrying rails.

Fig. 4 is an end sectional elevation of the control tower, looking from the line Z of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end sectional elevation of guide'rollers of the girder on the line X, Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 shows in plan view means for adjusting the alignment of the trolley transversely of the machine.

Fig. '7 illustrates in perspective view the iongitudinal scale bar, the setting plate and the notch bar holder.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the special notch bar with sets of notches of varying pitch.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional elevation of the Y, Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 shows in like view the lift on line i2, Fig. 2, and

Fig. 11 also in like view shows the chase guides on line 34, Fig. 2. I

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of the chase guiding means.

The framework or base of the machine is fixed and supports transverse rails upon which the trolley and superstructure are erected and move. Also in the framework is a rail 22 bearing the transverse scale bar and there are two aligning bars 23 hereinafter described. The trolley consists of two vertical plates stayed or braced by rods 26. To steady the trolley during operation of the machine parts, rollers 24 Fig. 3, are attached to the plate 24 in such a way as to be suspended therefrom and to come under and in contact with the rails 2|. The trolley is moved through suitable gearing from the wheel 26a and directional shafts 21 pass through the body plates 24 and are attached at their outer ends each to a chase bracket 29 asstays to the same. The brackets are supported over the tables 3i, on which are the sensitized photographic plates, by girders or beams 28 that move slidably over the carriage longitudinally of the machine on rollers 39 mounted on the carriage. The girder irons are braced transversely toform an integral whole and rollers 30a also on the trolley guide and align the girder assisted by the shafts 21. A negative holder is held in each of the chases and'is moved by the girder 28 with the brackets 29longitudinally over the sensitized plates at each end of the machine and transversely through the trolley. Means are provided for printing the photographs from the negatives on the sensitized plates and afterwards for fixing the same for printing from the plates in a press. To keep the images in proper alignment it is very neces- In the forward end the setting bar is fitted with a window 55, through which the scale is read.

Mounted on the girder 28 is the usual control tower 41 from which the necessary electric circuits and vacuum pipes emanate that are necessary for the purposes of printing upon the sensitized plates. The wheel 51, Fig. 4, is also on the tower and actuates gearing that moves the superstructure longitudinally.

To properly align the superstructure on the rails the bars 23 are provided and carry each a plate 82 that is bolted at eachside at the points 84 to an adjustment plate 83 in immediate contact with a bar 23. The two opposing bolts are accommodated in slots in the plate 82. On the adjustment plate 83 are rollers 85 that are mounted on eccentric spindles to bear against the edges of a rail 23 to swing the trolley into alignment in the framework. The plates 82 are connected in the machine to the superstructure through the stay rods 86 and brackets supported on the trolley rods 26.

The longitudinal scale bar 54 may be associated with the notched bar holder ll mounted on a stay rod 25 and employed with a pawl 18 on the setting bar 53. In the holder the notch bar 19 will be held and relied upon to engage with the pawl 18 as the parts move longitudinally. Stops 80 may be used in place of the bar 19 but if the bar is employed, the character of its notches will be such as to suit the spacing of aparticular job. Thus, there may be two sets of notches or teeth on each bar each set having a different pitch for application to a particular job.

It is essential, when printing from the negatives to the sensitized plates, that the negative holders shall be lifted from the sensitized plates after each print has been made and before the next movement over the plates is effected.

The brackets 29, one of which is on each end of the girder 28, bear the chase carriers 60, a chase 6| being in each carrier. Each chase in turn bears a negative holder, not shown on the drawings, and holder and chase can be raised or lowered as desired. This is effected through a com mon lever 62 pivotally mounted on a spindle 9| mounted in the members 29 and carrying two short levers 90 each attached to a rod 63 that is connected with the disc 64 on each bracket 29.

Other rods 65 articulate with the disc at points below 63 and at their outer ends are joined to the rocking levers 66 each of which is on a spindle 61 mounted along the sides of the chase carriers 80. On the spindles are pinions 68 that are in mesh with rack irons 59 mounted on and secured to a chase 6 I. Thus,.when the lever 52 is raised the disc 64 is rotated clockwise and the levers 66 are rocked to rotate the spindles 61 and operate the pinions 58 inthe racks 69 to raise the chases 6|. The movement of the lever 62 downwards will reverse the position of same. On the chase carrier an, that is securely attached to the bracket 29, is an. iron or irons 10 at each side and on the chase 6| wheels Tl engage the irons. The wheels ll may be eccentrically mounted in order to adjust the position of the chase 6| with in narrow limits should such be desired.

It will be observed that the girder 28 actually supports the brackets 29 suspended over the tables. The girder is made substantial enough to ensure that while resting on the trolley 24 with one end projecting further outwards than the other end, there shall be no warping or movement of said girder from the true horizontal.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

printingthe images from the negatives on to said plates.

2. A photo composing machine as defined in claim 1, in which are rollers on the trolley to support the girder, guide rollers at the top side of trolley to guide the girder, rods between the trolley sides and directional shafts that pass through the trolley and are attached as stays to the suspended brackets.

3. In a photo composing machine of the type indicated and having a trolley adapted to move transversely therein, the provision of a stout girder slidably supported on the trolley, a. bracket suspended from each end of the girder, a chase carrier in a bracket, a chase in the carrier and a negative holder in a chase, a table bearing a sensi;

'tized plate under each negative holder, means for moving the girder and the suspended parts longitudinally over the trolley and with the trolley transversely step by step, having a lever.

operatively connected with the suspended chases and negative holders to raise same prior to each stepby step movement and to lower same before I each print on the sensitized plate is made, and means for printing the images from the negatives on to said plates.

4. In a photo composing machine of the type indicated and having a trolley adapted to move transversely therein, the provision of a stout girder slidably supported on the trolley, a bracket suspended from each end of the girder, a chase carrier in a bracket, a chase in the carrier and a negative holder in a chase, a table bearing a sensitized plate under each negative holder, means for moving the girder and the suspended parts longitudinally over the trolley and with the trolley transversely step by step, having a lever operatively connected with the suspended chases and negative holders to raise same prior to each step by step movement andto lower same before each print on the sensitized plate is made, means for printing the images from the negatives on to said plates, and in which a spindle is between the brackets on the girder ends, a hand lever loosely mounted on the spindle, rotatable discs on the brackets operatively connected with the lever, spindles along the sides of the chase carriers, a rocking lever on each spindle, rods connecting the rocking levers with the discs, pinions on the spindles and rack irons on the chases that engage with the pinions that roll on' the rack irons when the hand lever is operated.

EDWARD EUGENE COOPER. ALBERT THEODORE TROEDEL. 

